Spalax is a genus of rodent in the family Spalacidae, subfamily Spalacinae (blind mole-rats). It is one of two extant genera in the subfamily Spalacinae, alongside Nannospalax.

Species in this genus are found in Eastern Europe and Western & Central Asia. They are completely blind and have a subterranean lifestyle.

Taxonomy

Prior to 2013, Spalax was widely considered the only member of Spalacinae, with all blind mole-rat species being grouped within it. However, phylogenetic and morphological evidence supported some of the species within it forming a distinct lineage that diverged from the others during the Late Miocene, when a marine barrier formed between Anatolia and the Balkans. These species were reclassified into the genus Nannospalax, making Spalax one of two extant spalacine genera.

Species

• Mehely's blind mole-rat, S. antiquus

• Sandy blind mole-rat, S. arenarius

• Giant blind mole-rat, S. giganteus

• Bukovina blind mole-rat, S. graecus

• Oltenia blind mole-rat, S. istricus (possibly extinct)

• Greater blind mole-rat, S. microphthalmus

• Kazakhstan blind mole-rat, S. uralensis

• Podolsk blind mole-rat, S. zemni

References

Further reading

• Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea." pp.8941531 in Wilson, D. E. and D. M. Reeder, eds. Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. 3rd ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

• Nowak, R. M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World, II. London: Johns Hopkins University Press

• Topachevskii, V. A. (1976) Fauna of the USSR. Volume III: Mammals. Issue 3: Mole rats, Spalacidae. New Delhi: Amerind.

fr:Spalacinae pl:Ślepce